Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balconginar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balconginar’, characterized by its medium reddish-purple colored flowers having a darker reddish-purple colored center with a central yellow-colored star pattern, medium green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, and compact growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balconginar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balconginar’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during September 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with unique flower coloration and compact, mounded growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded 13450-2, not patented, characterized by its medium rose-colored flowers having a dark rose colored center with a central yellow-colored star pattern, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded 13215-1, not patented, characterized by its light pink-colored flowers having a rose-colored center with a central yellow-colored star pattern, medium green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2016 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2016 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balconginar’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Medium reddish-purple colored flowers having a darker         reddish-purple colored center with a central yellow-colored star         pattern;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor; and     -   4. Compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a more branches per plant. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a darker flower color and a less vigorous growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is CAN-CAN Bumble Bee Pink ‘Balcanumbi’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,547. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcanumbi’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have flower petal colors that are         slightly darker reddish-purple on the upper half and are a         lighter reddish-purple color on the petal base than plants of         ‘Balcanumbi’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller corolla diameter         than plants of ‘Balcanumbi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balconginar’. The plants were approximately 8 months old and grown in 3-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. for approximately 5 months. Treatments are described below in the Detailed Botanical Description.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balconginar’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balconginar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in October 2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were approximately 8 months old and grown in 3-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. for approximately 5 months. Plants were given two pinches, the first at 3 weeks after cuttings were stuck and a second approximately 3 weeks later. Plants were treated with plant growth regulators of Daminozide at 2500 ppm and Chlormequat chloride at 750 ppm approximately 4 weeks after cuttings were stuck. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida ‘Balconginar’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded 13450-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded 13215-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low vigor,             compact-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 23.0 cm. Width: Approximately 74.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 5.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 36.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stems:             146C. Color of mature stems: 146D with age becoming woody             199C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 2.2 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: NN137A             with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: Closest to 138A with midvein of 146D. Color of             upper surface of mature foliage: NN137B with midvein of             146D. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 147B with             midvein of 146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balconginar’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant:

Approximately 80. Fragrance: None detected.

-   -   -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 30.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion N74D, tube             portion 154C, venation of N92A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Shallowly notched. Length from tube:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately             5.0 mm. Corolla lobing: Medium to strong, Width:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Glandular pubescent, dense along             venation. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of             upper surface when first open: Approximately upper half of             petals N 74B with midveins in this portion of closest to             NN78A, approximately lower half of petals NN78A with             midveins in this portion of N92A, all other venation very             weak throughout, petal base and lower half of fused portions             of petal margins of 7B, the yellow coloration has the             overall appearance of a star pattern. Color of lower surface             when first and fully open: 75A to 75B with midveins of N77A.             Color of upper surface when fully open: Approximately upper             half of petals N74C with midveins in this portion of closest             to NN78A, approximately lower half of petals NN78A with             midveins in this portion of N77A, all other venation very             weak throughout, petal base and lower half of fused portions             of petal margins of 7B, the yellow coloration has the             overall appearance of a star pattern.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 7A             with weak venation of N92A. Color of outer surface: 154D             with venation of N77A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute. Length:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface:             137A. Color of lower surface: 137C with 144A at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament             color: 150C. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 143A. Style length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style             color: 145D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary             color: 145A.

-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed.

-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balconginar’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 